Actually, I don't want you to misunderstand,... that "coin of the realm" phrase was the only part of that paragraph that was mine. Dr. Sowell designed the idea, and I applied the language to describe it. I'd hate for you to accidentally attribute my wood pulp which passes for writing with the work of Thomas Sowell. I'm certain that a mistake like that, well intentioned as it may be, isn't nearly as flattering for him as it is for me.
As for his books, I highly recommend them. For the first time reader I'd recommend The Economics and Politics of Race"
It's hardly his most comprehensive work, but it's a lightning fast read, and doesn't cost too much (relative to his other books). Most of the ideas in it are being recycled in a sort of populist way by Larry Elder in his book "Ten things you can't say in America" but when Larry Elder says it, it lacks that "ring of incontrovertible truth" that comes with all of Dr. Sowell's writing.
Thanks for the correction. I most likely would have, at some time, attributed that to Dr. Sowell and everyone would have thought he was as brilliant as you. :-)